Late Wednesday night, IMB President David Platt issued the statement reproduced below. You can find the original statement here along with the story in Baptist Press here. Platt apologizes to Anne Miller and announces an investigation of this and any similar situations, as well as an examination of current policies. You may contribute to Anne Miller's Trauma Fund at GoFundMe to help with costs of treatment she's undergoing. Full IMB Statement Printed Below. Link Statement from IMB President David Platt I just returned from the last couple of weeks in sub-Saharan … [Read more...] about David Platt & IMB Issue Statement Apologizing to Anne Miller
Social Issues
Hope For the Post-Abortive Woman
Have you ever had to keep a secret? I'm not talking about the surprise trip to Disney Land for your family, but instead the secret that feels like a long slow death. How about keeping that secret for decade upon decades? Wondering over and over again what it will be like if and when it gets out. What more you will lose at the cost of the secret. The thing about secrets is that they are so incredibly powerful even in their silence. It can be so loud it's deafening, but it makes no audible noise as it slowly chokes the life and beauty out of a person's soul. Secrets birth shame, … [Read more...] about Hope For the Post-Abortive Woman
Finally, Chaucer Makes Voices…and Other Recent Notables
Melissa Eddington gets a gold star for working Chaucer into an article. I think I've read a bit of old Chuck Chaucer, guy from Alabama, right? SWBTS trustees are instructed to meet a self-selected group of big donors "forthwith" sayeth the wealthy former donors to the seminary. Money talks. Sometimes it barks out orders, even in Southern Baptist life. Guess we will see who jumps. Brent Hobbs is doing a lot of the editing and admin stuff here now. He is responsible for finding all of these neat photos that come with articles. What goes on in his mind when he matches them up, I don't know, but … [Read more...] about Finally, Chaucer Makes Voices…and Other Recent Notables
What Women Really Want (Melissa Edgington)
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” Chaucer creates a king who, as punishment for an evil deed, is sent on a quest to find out what it is that women really want. He travels the entire land, asking women everywhere, and much to his discouragement, every answer is different. He is beginning to believe he will never learn the truth of what it is that women truly desire. Finally, he comes across an old mystic who reveals that the ultimate wish of all women is to dominate and rule over their husbands and lovers. In the end the king is forced to marry the old woman and, once he finally concedes … [Read more...] about What Women Really Want (Melissa Edgington)
Unconvinced by Bart Barber’s Case for Prioritizing Strict Immigration Enforcement
Yesterday here at Voices, Bart Barber wrote A Non-Nativist Case for Strict Enforcement of Immigration Law. There are several reasons I approached Bart’s article with a lot of anticipation. One of which is the huge amount of respect I have for Bart. Another is that he’s helped me think through immigration-related issues before (here, here, here, and here, for example) in ways that have been really, really helpful. But yesterday’s post left me scratching my head. It’s not that I think Bart is wrong in advocating for the principle of strict enforcement of immigration laws. I’m for border … [Read more...] about Unconvinced by Bart Barber’s Case for Prioritizing Strict Immigration Enforcement
Rescued from Politics, Refocused in the Pulpit
There was a time in my young adult life I was very involved in politics. VERY involved. I was a pro-life lobbyist in Kentucky. I worked long and hard for Jim Bunning way back when he was a congressman (even marched with him and his precious wife Mary in the March for Life in DC). Almost took a job in Senator Mitch McConnell’s office. Had numerous friends that worked in Washington congressional offices. Was partly responsible for starting a multi-county “Young Republican” club in Eastern Kentucky. While President of that YR club, I (along with my team) organized and hosted the Young Republican … [Read more...] about Rescued from Politics, Refocused in the Pulpit
A Non-Nativist Case for Strict Enforcement of Immigration Law
It is the major purpose of law to provide justice for people who are experiencing injustice. A law is a good law if it intends a just outcome. A law is an effective law if it actually accomplishes more justice than it causes injustice. Immigration law is no exception to this general rule. We have immigration law in order to provide justice to people and to minimize the level of injustice suffered by people. To determine whether our immigration laws are good or bad, effective or ineffective, we merely must examine how well they are accomplishing just outcomes for the people affected by … [Read more...] about A Non-Nativist Case for Strict Enforcement of Immigration Law
SBC Entities, Child Abuse, and Sexual Harassment
Our flagship and by far largest entity, the International Mission Board, published a statement on child abuse and sexual harassment. The board says, The IMB is committed to zero tolerance for child abuse and sexual harassment among our personnel. Further, the IMB is committed to communicating clearly and cooperating with our partners to guard against child abuse and sexual harassment. The policy provides that, IMB personnel are subject to immediate dismissal for such offenses. IMB will comply with mandatory reporting on such things. IMB has a dedicated phone number for reports of … [Read more...] about SBC Entities, Child Abuse, and Sexual Harassment
The ERLC on the Revoice Conference
I am so thankful for this iteration of the ERLC. In years past I wondered about having an arm of our cooperative work which was so intrinsically tied to politics. However, the men and women who are currently serving at the ERLC seem to deeply care about their work and they do not tie their opinions to partisan politics. I very much appreciate that (I will write more about my thoughts on that soon). Over the last few years they have taken shots, like a champ, from both sides of the political spectrum so arguably they must be doing something right. (bring on the condescending comments) I want … [Read more...] about The ERLC on the Revoice Conference
Locked Compartments (Ann Hibbard)
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ann, and I am a compartmentalized woman. I have a variety of titles, jobs, responsibilities, all of which I often need to keep individualized and separate. Even if some of my responsibilities overlap, typically each job must hold its own space on the schedule. The lines between them cannot be allowed to blur lest I fail to honor my responsibilities in one or the other. For many years, I have seen this compartmentalism as necessary for functionality, organization, balance, and excellence. And this viewpoint has, indeed, proven useful. I have seen … [Read more...] about Locked Compartments (Ann Hibbard)